Miss Alabama

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA and Miss Universe, see Miss Alabama USA.

Miss Alabama is an annual beauty pageant which is used as a qualifier for the Miss America pageant.

The pageant was originally sponsored by the Birmingham News, which already sponsored a Miss Birmingham pageant. In 1936, 1946 and 1948 both contests sent representatives to the Miss America pageant. Miss Alabama became the primary qualifier in 1949, the first year it was held in the Alabama Theatre. Similarly the "Miss Mobile" and "Miss Montgomery" pageants became qualifiers for Miss Alabama between 1926 and 1941. Since 1971 all entrants must have been crowned in a preliminary local pageant. The pageant competition is currently held at Samford University's Wright Center auditorium.

Since 1921, Alabama has produced three Miss Americas, 21 top-five finalists and 46 top-15 semi-finalists. Two Miss Alabamas have been named "Miss Congeniality" at the national pageant. From 1947 until his retirement decades later all of the pageants were directed by James Hatcher. He was also selected to direct the 1960 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City.